Saturday, 12 July 2014

In London town they say you see many things … surprising
things and some which bring back funny memories long forgotten, yet this one
had disappeared into the recesses of my mind …

Glockenspiel and Clock with, in front, the Cantonal Tree

… years ago, not quite centuries, but decades have passed
since I visited Swiss House for some food or drink or to pass the time of day …
what I had not forgotten was we had to go down stairs, sit on high bar stools
where I had the most amazing Drambuie Cream Sorbet …

Creamy Cherry Kirsch Icecream

… a texture and taste I long remember, though whether or not
it was Drambuie, I doubt – I’m not a happy camper with a whisky – so perhaps
Cherry Kirsch … more suitable for the Swiss House … delicious is all I can say
and remember …

… I’ll never find out now, I guess … and as I see a link for
over 127 Kirsch Ice Cream recipes … I won’t even try!!

Ultramarine blue
Cockerel on 4th plinth
in Trafalgar Squre

Still I had two reasons for going to London … to see
“Primary Colours” – an exhibition at the National Gallery on pigments and their
relationship with paintings from medieval days …

… and then round the corner to the National Portrait Gallery
to see the exhibition on Virginia Woolf: Art, Vision and Life …

The Cantonal Tree

I’ll post shortly on both those … I went by bus from
Victoria station to Piccadilly, then walked through the masses of students and
throngs of visitors towards Leicester Square …

… as I was about to walk into Leicester Square at midday
suddenly the most amazing Swiss bells ring out – I’m startled … I’m right underneath
… cowbells in London?

Photo taken by Dickon Love
when installing the clock

I was mesmerized and stood listening for the five minute
playtime, and watching as the minute/second hand went round, it was spoon
shaped, then I noticed the procession of animals and cow-herders …

c/o Figures by BBC

… the original Glockenspiel on the Swiss Centre – consisting
of 27 bells, an astronomical clock and a procession of 23 farmers herding their
cows to Alpine pasture was given to the City of Westminster on its 400th
anniversary in 1985 by Switzerland and Liechtenstein as a token of centuries of
friendship.

Swiss Centre
1960s
architecture

When Swiss House was demolished and the area redeveloped …
the Glockenspiel needed to be refurbished, which was done by Smith of Derby (clockmakers since 1856, and in fact
back to 1708 – interesting firm with lots of fascinating clock installations …
I see another post sometime!) …

… the
installation was recreated into two parts this amazing ‘clock tower’: a Cantonal
Tree displaying the 26 Coats of Arms of the Swiss Cantons and the Glockenspiel
Clock …

But when the Glockenspiel was formally re-inaugurated in 2011 a
demonstration was given of the way it could be played live - by plugging in a
keyboard …

Alphorn concert in Vals, Switzerland

… and six Alphorn players were placed on various roofs around
Leicester Square, some hidden … so that a degree of mystery surrounded the
sudden emanation of sound …

… in the streets traditional bell-playing folklore groups
from various parts of Switzerland paraded towards the Glockenspiel at the newly
named Swiss Court … when the
Glockenspiel was programmed to give solo performances and played in unison with
the bell-ringers.

Each of the bells has the inscription of a different Swiss
canton in the inscription band, with the name of a different Westminster ward
along the sound bow. On the waist of
each bell is a shield of shields of the canton to which it is dedicated.

Federal Charter of 1291

The precursors of Switzerland established a protective
alliance at the end of 13th century (1291), forming a loose
confederation of states which persisted for centuries.

Liechtenstein has been included due to its working proximity
to Switzerland, albeit it is a separate microstate ‘doubly landlocked alpine
country’ - bordered on two sides by Switzerland and on the other two by
Austria. The bell for Liechtenstein is dated
1791 ... reference to relevant Constitutional Documentation.

Gutenberg Castle, Balzers, Liechtenstein
is a museum

So anyone who is visiting London … I highly recommend a visit
to listen to this amazing instrument … fascinating to watch, and highly
entertaining to listen to – amidst the cacophony of tongues roundabout.

Westminster City
Coat of Arms

Strange but true … cow-herders can be seen in Leicester
Square …

Website: Smith of Derby showing some slides ... and giving us a few more details: viz the design islike a free-standing totem pole, featuring 23 figures - 11 moving farmers and their animals - against a typical Swiss Alpine backdrop, images of the 27 cantons, 27 bells and 4 Swiss Jacomas representing bell ringers and two clocks.

47 comments:

That's one of the things I love about visiting London, there is always something new and interesting to see and experience. We are paying a visit in a couple of weeks, so will try and catch the bells, thanks for the recommendation, Hilary.

It's a long time since I visited the Swiss Centre, but I knew nothing of this Glockenspiel... but then if it was reinstalled in 2011 maybe it wasn't there when I visited in the period mid 80s to mid 2000s. I wouldnt have been there at midday anyway, though.

I love London!I am not a city person usually, and I'm the only person I know who doesn't love New York City ...

But London is different! There is always something magical about London. That is one impressive clock. The only clock tower with moving figures and bells and whatnot that I've ever seen was somewhere in Germany -- I forget where, exactly. I was on a tour with my husband (who was at that time merely my boyfriend).

@ Annalisa - well that was good timing wasn't it .. enjoy your London visit and let me know re the Glockenspiel ..

@ Alex - they were certainly a great deal of fun to see .. I've been trying to work out their heights .. about 2 feet or 18 inches - they can be seen .. but from how far I'm not sure ..

@ Murees - the 'sorbet' I've put there isn't exactly right .. but the colour is pretty! The sounds of the bells amazed me - fun too ..

@ Jemima - the Glockenspiel was only given in 1985, with the need to be stored in 2008 on redevelopment of the area; before being re-installed in 2011 ... but I think if you weren't aware, and weren't underneath as I was the sound would have blended in with all the other city noise .. buses, taxis hooting etc

@ Janice - I'm sure there's lots to see if we walk around - it's not my best form of travel unfortunately .. but I do manage what I can .. but this is worth visiting ..

@ Holly - it's an amazing site and very pretty, very informative and completely different to other London landmarks ..

@ Susanne - playing an Alphorn must be very technically clever - they look quite difficult .. but I agree to hear a concert would be fun. The ice-cream looked good too ..

@ Dianne - I struggle with cities .. but I do enjoy visiting London ...

You're right - there's a Glockenspiel in Munich's Marienplatz ... what a lovely memory to have a European trip with your hubby-to-be ... I haven't been to Munich for years ..

Thanks everyone - lovely to see you 'relate' to the Glock .. cheers Hilary

Interesting, didn't know we had a glockenspiel in London. We do have one here in Kitchener which is the proud host of the second biggest Oktoberfest in the world. In fact I worked for the company some years ago at the time when the glockenspiel was commissioned from them.

That is definitely on my list of things to see and do when I finally get to London. Thank you, you certainly piqued my interest. I enjoy reading of the places you go to. I have a brother in London and I would love to visit him some time in the not too distant future, I doubt he has seen half of the lovely things to see.

The sounds must have been a lovely surprise, especially in the middle of London. The cows and goats in this clock are so adorable. My father's family is from Switzerland and these clocks are a perfect representation of that beautiful country.

I knew I would love this post as it brought back memories of my trip to London but I didn't expect the Glockenspiel! How amazing! I would love to both see and hear that. Now I want to go read more details at the link you shared. :)

@ Julie - the flavour of the ice-cream boozy drink I had all those years ago - really came flooding back while I was standing listening to the bells .. I just took a different route that day - and opened my eyes to a few things ..

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About Me

A lover of life – who after London, spent time in South Africa; an administrator, sports lover, who enjoys cooking and entertaining ... who through her mother’s illness found a new passion – writing, in particular blogging; which provides an opportunity for future exploration, by the daughter, who has (in her 3rd age years) found a love of historical education. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat – interaction is the key! Now moved to Vancouver Island, Canada for 'a while' - not forever ...